![]() “I mentioned this at the time last year, we did not have an internal option for first base, it was open. “Like anything, do you have options internally? That’s the first thing,” Anthopoulos said of filling the shortstop void. It’s unclear if the Atlanta-area native would do that. If the Braves are unwilling to offer Swanson, who’ll be 29 in February, a long-term deal with an AAV above the $22 million ceiling they’ve had on any salary in extensions they gave to Austin Riley and Matt Olson this year, Swanson will likely have to leave many millions on the table in a hometown discount to remain a Brave. They say they’re prepared to go to spring training with 21-year-old Vaughn Grissom and versatile veteran Orlando Arcia as their shortstop options, but the Braves could also consider a trade for a more accomplished shortstop such as Cleveland’s Amed Rosario or Milwaukee’s Willy Adames, if either is truly available. ![]() The Braves still hope to retain Swanson but seem unwilling to offer him a long-term contract with an average salary closer to $20 million than to $25 million. That could make Swanson particularly attractive to the Cubs, Cardinals and other teams including Turner’s former team, the Dodgers, though Los Angeles would probably have to offer a lot more than other teams to convince Swanson to head west. That narrowed the field to three available top-tier free agent shortstops - Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, and Swanson, who’s expected to cost significantly less than Turner, Correa and probably Bogaerts. He’s the fourth of the big four free-agent shortstops, and one at the top of that list, Trea Turner, agreed Monday to a massive 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. That “huge spot” is shortstop, where the Braves have had Dansby Swanson through their run of five consecutive division titles and 2021 World Series championship, but might not be willing to offer him what another suitor does. “It’s a good position to be in, because we have that huge spot open.” And then obviously what Manny brings - a guy who’s great in the clubhouse, and the defensive side is plus. “I think with the DH spot being open - we haven’t committed to Rosario, Ozuna everyday at-bats right now they’re going to come in and compete for playing time - and you see what Contreras did,” Anthopoulos said, adding that the Braves will try to “get him as many at-bats as we can get him, behind the plate, DH and so on. 860 OPS and 138 OPS+ in 97 games, including 57 starts at catcher, 31 at DH and one in left field, the latter a position where the Braves no longer seem likely to try him again. D’Arnaud made the All-Star team as a catcher and Contreras as a designated hitter.Ĭontreras, 24, finished his first full season with a. That opened the door for Contreras, and the young slugger roared through by making the most of his opportunity to such a degree that the Braves began using him at DH when he wasn’t catching. Piña was signed to be d’Arnaud’s backup last season but played only five games before season-ending wrist surgery. And, look, we’re going to be open-minded.” “I think that goes without saying, it being a position of strength, we get asked about that spot in trades. “We love the depth that we have,” he said during the Winter Meetings that began Sunday in San Diego. However, Anthopoulos made it clear if the right deal came along that would fill a need or otherwise strengthen the team, he would consider it.
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